| Product: |
Doctor Who Radio Controlled Dalek |
| Date: |
05/05/08 (145 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: fun, entertaining, life-like
Disadvantages: Batteries, generally pricey
I'd always fancied the remote control Dalek, but didn't exactly feel comfortable paying the full price of £30. I was delighted when I came across the nifty little gadget for a tiny £8 at a car boot sale! Taking it home, only hoping it was in full working operation, I crammed in the batteries and flicked the 'on switch'...
Who are the Daleks?
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Way back in 1963 when Doctor Who was just beginning, the Daleks made their first appearance on our screens. Metal mutants from Skaro, the Daleks are the greatest enemy of the Doctor, and have faced him in battle many times. In the Great War, a battle across the universe between the Time Lords and the Daleks, both races were severely damaged, the Dalek Emperor taking the worst. However, not all the Daleks were destroyed, and continued their attempt to destroy the human race throughout the centuries, scaring everybody with their terrifying catchphrase: "Exterminate!"
The Doctor has since then encountered the Daleks many a time throughout the television series', his latest 'greeting' with them ending with just one little Dalek escaping. Of course, it would not be Doctor Who without the infamous Daleks; they are sure to make a reappearance! When, though, is a different issue!
My Dalek...
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As soon as I switched on my Dalek, a terrifying voice boomed out, "Seek! Locate! Annihilate!" My gold Dalek is 12 inches in height, and requires 4 AA batteries for him to work, which are inserted into his underneath. When you first switch him on, his eye lights up, with a glowing blue bulb. It's very eerie and effecting, allowing him to resemble the real Daleks. If you press one of his buttons, he will speak automatically. This, along with the light, is a good way to check whether the batteries are inserted correctly and that he is fully activated!
The appearance of the Dalek is very much like the ones we can see on our screens. All his markings and features are present, complete with a rotating head and moving 'plunger' arm!
The controller...
The controller, an attractive shade of gold to match the Dalek's casing, is complete with a left- and right-analogue stick, plus five additional buttons. Needless to say, the analogue sticks are used to steer the Dalek. I found that my Dalek runs a lot smoother on laminated or smooth surfaces, however it is possible to navigate him across carpeted floors too.
When pressed, each of the five buttons allow the Dalek to carry out a different command. Four of these order the Dalek to speak: "Seek! Locate! Annihilate!", "You will be destroyed by the Daleks, obey, obey!", "Halt or you will be exterminated!" and "We are the supreme beings!" are the four fun phrases the Dalek bellows out, each recongisable from television appearances. The fourth button is a SFX option, which provides the Dalek with special sound effects to accompany his 'weapons'!
In order for your remote control to operate, a single 9V battery is required. It's quite a large controller, which I found quite weird, considering the Dalek is suited for 5+ years! However, it's reasonably simple to use and not too heavy either!
Verdict...?
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Being a huge fan of 21st Century Doctor Who, I was delighted when I came across this bargain, and am thrilled with the amazing features and functions that come with the Dalek. Although I may be a little older than the target audience for this toy, it's still an entertaining gadget suitable for any fan of the sci-fi show!
I wouldn't pay the full price for this myself, but after having such fun with it, I'd certainly recommend that other fans purchase this! Although you obviously need to fork out a bit more for batteries, you'll have a fantastic time whizzing your very own Dalek around the house (terrifying pets I'm sure - my dog was a bit baffled by the creature himself!).
This Dalek also comes in black, and if I am not mistaken, red now too. Though, I feel the gold one seems more traditional, and is a joy to play with! It also comes in a variety of heights too, including the smaller 5 inch version and the new 18 inch Daleks!
If you are a fan of the show or the Daleks themselves, then it is a definite must-have!
© Amy 2008
Prices and purchase...
Amazon - £20
Argos - £19.99
Forbidden Planet - £49.99
Toys 'r' Us - £19.99
Woolworths - £34.99
Summary: A fantastic toy to amuse the whole family!
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